Philipp Hofmann's late goal earns Brentford victory in dramatic finish
Substitute Philipp Hofmann grabbed a 96th-minute winner for 10-man Brentford in a pulsating 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest.
The German bundled home from close range deep into injury time to inflict the fourth away defeat in a row on Forest and lift the roof off Griffin Park.
The game exploded into life just after the hour mark, after a cagey first half, when Liverpool loanee Sergi Canos lashed home from close range after Harlee Dean's header back across goal.
But minutes later Bees centre-back Dean was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball clash with Jonathan Williams.
And just minutes later Henri Lansbury made the man advantage count when he capitalised on a rare slip by Toumani Diagouraga to slot home from 12 yards.
The visitors pushed forward trying to press home their advantage but Brentford still looked a threat on the break, with the pace of Canos causing the visitors problems.
In the dying minutes it was Brentford who looked more intent on going for the winner, James Tarkowski seeing a 90th-minute header bounce back off the post.
The winner came in the sixth of seven minutes inexplicably added on in a game of few injuries. Ryan Woods' snapshot volley was palmed clear to Tarkowski, who steered an effort goalwards - sparking a frenzied goalmouth melee which Hofmann finally ended with the decisive touch.
It was no more than the hosts deserved for a spirited second-half display which could not have been more different from their first-half showing.
Forest could and should have been out of sight by the break as Brentford struggled with a strangely flat atmosphere, but wayward finishing and Brentford stopper David Button kept it goalless.
Nelson Oliveira forced a full-length save from the keeper before he stopped Jamie Ward's effort from the edge of the box at the second attempt.
Oliveira should have done better with a mazy run down the left but opted to shoot with the dangerous Ryan Mendes de Graca unmarked in the middle.
Button was at his best again just after the break, tipping Oliveira's downward header past the post as the Griffin Park crowd still waited for a first shot on goal.
It came on 57 minutes when John Swift's dipping, swerving drive forced a good save from Dorus De Vries.
After Canos' breakthrough, the flashpoint came when Dean grabbed the ball after a disputed foul and as Williams came to snatch it from him, he swung with the ball in his hands and caught the winger who dropped to the ground.
Lansbury thought he had bagged his side a point until Hofmann's late, late intervention and the win, Brentford's fifth in seven games, will put more pressure on reluctant Bees boss Lee Carsley to take the job permanently despite rumours of a new manager waiting in the wings.
Meanwhile Dougie Freedman will be under growing pressure to halt Forest's run of away defeats.
Source: PA
